Port protector



Oct. 20, 1942. I 2. F. DMUNDSON 2,299,472

PORT PROTECTOR Filed Febl 28, 1941 INVENT ZERAH F. EDM- DSON ATTORNEYPatented Oct. 20, 1942 PORT PROTECTOR Zerah F. Edmundson, McKeesport,Pa., assignor to The Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application February 28, 1941, Serial No.381,053

8 Claims.

instances cause a subsequent failure of opera- 1.

tion of the valve device. An object of my invention is to provide animproved device effective to positively prevent the entry of suchinsects without interfering with the normal functioning of the valvedevice.

Another object of my invention is to provide an attachment that willeffectively cover the atmospheric port so as to eliminate the collectionof dirt or foreign matter in the passage, or in the attachment itself,and which will not protrude unduly from the device.

Other objects include providing a device which will prevent the blowingof rain or water into the atmospheric passage of a valve device; whichwill break ice formations that are sometimes ina curred in the coldseason and which prevent the exhaust of fluid under pressure from thevalve device; which is adapted to be applied to those fluid pressurevalve devices which are already in service, without modification of thevalve device; and which is simple, durable, inexpensive, and will servethe purpose set forth in the foregoing objects effectually.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following moredetailed description of my invention.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of aportion of a fluid pressure brake valve body having therein anatmospheric port and showing a port protector embodying the inventiondisposed in the port, with the parts thereof in normal position. Fig. 2is an illustration of the same embodiment with parts shown in theventing position. Fig. 3 illustrates the same embodiment disposed in anatmospheric port having the mouth thereof recessed, with the parts shownin normal position. Fig. 4 illustrates the same adaptation as in Fig, 3with the parts shown in the venting position.

Considering now more in detail the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and2, I have shown in fragmentary form a valve device I provided with adischarge passage 2 terminating in an atmospheric port ID. This valvedevice is intended to be representative of the various types of valvedevices employed in fluid pressure brake equipments having an exhaustpassage and port. As will be evident presently, the size and shape ofthe exhaust port is immaterial, as the invention can be adapted to anysize and shape.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have designated by the numeral 3 a port protectorembodying features of the invention. This port protector is providedwith a main or body portion 4 in the form of a hollow cylinder. Thiscylinder terminates at one end in a retaining ring portion 5, and at theother end in an outwardly flaring annular portion 6, which at itsperiphery joins an imperforate diaphragm portion 1. The portionsreferred to are ,3 preferably integral and the entire port protectordevice is preferably molded from a resilient composition material, suchas rubber or similar flexible material.

The annular portion 6 is provided with a plurality of circularly spacedapertures ll. When the port protector is to be inserted into the exhaustport IE), it is distorted sufliciently so that the 5 and body 4 may bepressed into the port and then allowed to expand until they assome theposition shown in Fig. l. The exhaust port Iii is in most instancesprovided with an internal shoulder 9 against which the ring 5 will clampin its expanded position, so that the port protector will be held firmlyin the exhaust port 59. When in this position, the annular portion 6will be drawn snugly against the surface immediately surrounding theport It so that communications between the passage 2 and the at mospherewhich might be effected through the apertures 3 is normally closed.

It will be seen that with a port protector of the design describedinserted the exhaust port, the exhaust port is completely closed so thatinsects and foreign matter cannot enter the port. The port will thus beheld closed until it is desired to have it open to permit fluid underpressure to be discharged therefrom.

In operation, when fluid is supplied to passage 2 under pressure, thepressure of the fluid is imposed on the inside surface of the diaphragm1 and causes the diaphragm to be distended outwardly of the port Hi, thediaphragm assuming the position somewhat as shown in Fig. 2. As thediaphragm 1 moves to this dist-ended position, it separates the annularportion 5 from the surface contiguous to the por, Hi and permits fluidunder pressure in the passage 2 to escape to the atmosphere by way ofthe apertures 8.

It will be understood that since the diaphragm 5o 1 and flared portion 6are flexible any ice or dirt which may collect on the outer surface ofthe diaphragm or which may tend to secure the flared portion 6 ordiaphragm to the casing will be broken away when fluid under pressure issupplied to the passage 2, thus ensuring the proper operation of theprotector.

It should be observed that the port protector device may be formed tosuit any size or shape of exhaust port, and that it may be applied toexisting valve devices or newly designed valve device Screw threads areshown in the exhaust port be cause they are frequently provided to givethe user the option of piping the fluid pressure discharge to a remotepoint. It will readily be seen that these screw threads do not interferewith the application of the port protector, since the port protectorprovides its own securing means. Hence, the exhaust port need not bethreaded in order to retain the port protector in applied position, norare screws or other attaching devices required. This highly desirableadaptability of the port protector is further illustrated in Figs, 3 and4.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, I have illustrated in fragmentary form avalve device l I having a discharge passage 12 and an atmospheric portl3 as in the valve device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In addition,however, the mouth of the discharge port [3 is provided with a recessl1, wherein an annular chamfered seating surface I4 is disposedintermediate the outer end I5 and the inner end [5 of the recess. Thisvalve device is representative of the design which would preferably beemployed in new devices. It would protect the diaphragm portion of theport protector from driving rain, cleansing steam or flying bodies.

The port protector is distorted and applied to this modified form ofvalve device in the same manner as previously described in connectionwith Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 3 illustrates the application of the portprotector to this valve device, the several parts of the protector beingshown in their normal position in which communication between apertures8 and the atmosphere is closed by the engagement of the flared portion 6with the chamfered area l4.

Operation in this adaptation is substantially the same as thatpreviously described in connection with the adaptation illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2, the diaphragm i being distended in the same way andcommunication to atmosphere being established through the apertures 8when the annular portion 6 is withdrawn from closing engagement with thechamfered area M.

The protector when applied to this design of valve device will excludeentry of insects, dirt, water or other foreign matter just aseffectively as when applied to the valve device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.Also, in its recessed position, the port protector is itself protectedfrom rain, cleansing steam or flying bodies. In addition, the machinedsurface of the annular chamber provides an excellent sealing surface.There is also little likelihood of, or opportunity for, ice or mud toseal the diaphragm sufliciently to cause a failure of valve operation.

While only two embodiments of the improved port protector provided bythis invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it shouldbe understood that the invention is not limited to these details ofconstruction, and that numerous changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A port protector for an atmospheric passage in the body of a fluidpressure brake valve device, comprising, a diaphragm member of largerdiameter than that of said passage and having its periphery turnedinwardly upon itself, and a resilient fastening means joined to theinwardly turned portion of said diaphragm, said inwardly turned portionhaving a plurality of apertures therethrough disposed so as to benormally sealed against the body of said valve device and uncovered topermit venting when said diaphragm member is distended by internal fluidpressure.

2. A port protector for a fluid pressure brake valve device having inthe body thereof an atmospheric passage, comprising, a hollow resilientcylindrical body, a resilient retaining ring joined to one end of saidcylindrical body, an outwardly flaring annular portion joined to theother end of said cylindrical body, said outwardly flaring annularportion having a plurality of apertures circularly disposed therein, andan imperforate diaphragm joined at its periphery to the periphery ofsaid annular portion,

3. A port protector for an atmospheric passage, in the body of a fluidpressure brake valve device, having an internal shoulder, comprising, ahollow resilient cylindrical body for interfitting with said passage, aresilient ring attached to one end of said cylinder and havingsufl'lciently larger diameter than that of said cylinder to provide asecure purchase on said shoulder at the inner end of said passage, and adistensible discoidal member comprising two layers, the inner layerforming a thin annulus secured at its inner periphery to said cylinder,and the outer layer forming an imperforate diaphragm secured at itsperiphery to the outer periphery of said inner layer, said inner layerhaving a plurality of apertures therethrough disposed between its innerand outer peripheries, and said two layers being so formed as to holdsaid inner layer normally sealed against the body of said valve deviceand adapted to be disengaged therefrom to permit venting of said passagethrough said apertures when said discoidal member is distended byinternal fluid pressure.

4. A port protector for a fluid pressure brake valve device having inthe body thereof an atmospheric passage, said passage having the mouththereof recessed, comprising, a hollow resilient cylindrical bodyinterfitting with said passage, and terminating at one end in aresilient member extending radially outward from said cylindrical body,and terminating at the other end in a distensible discoidal membercomprising two layers, the inner layer forming a thin annulus secured atits inner periphery to said cylindrical body, and the outer layerforming an imperforate diaphragm secured at its periphery to the outerperiphery of said inner layer, said inner layer having a plurality ofapertures therethrough disposed between its inner and outer peripheries,

and said two layers being so formed as to hold said inner layer normallysealed against the area surrounding and immediately adjacent to saidpassage.

5. In combination, a fluid pressure brake valve device having in thebody thereof a vent passage leading to atmosphere, said passage beingadapted to receive a port protector by having the mouth thereofrecessed, and a port protector, comprising a hollow resilientcylindrical body interfltting with said vent passage and terminating atone end in an outwardly flaring resilient securing portion andterminating at the other end in a diaphragm having a diameter largerthan that of said passage and a diameter smaller than that of saidrecessed mouth, and having its periphery turned inwardly upon itself andjoined to said cylindrical body, said inwardly turned portion having aplurality of apertures therethrough and being formed to seal against andwithin the recessed portion of said vent passage, and to be disengagedtherefrom to permit venting of said passage through said apertures tothe atmos- 'phere when said diaphragm member is distended by internalfluid pressure.

6. A protector for an exhaust passage of a fluid pressure device,comprising, a hollow sleeve portion open to said passage and secured tothe device in sealing engagement with a wall of the passage, a hollowenlarged portion in open communication with the interior of the sleeveportion, said enlarged portion having exhaust openings formed thereinleading to the exterior of the enlarged portion, the enlarged portionnormally engaging the device to prevent ingress from the exterior to theinterior of the enlarged portion, said enlarged portion being deformablein response to the pressure of exhaust fluid from said passage to opencommunication between said openings and the atmosphere.

7. As an article of manufacture, a port protector for an exhaust passageof a fluid pressure device, comprising, a hollow deformable sleeveportion, a circumferentially larger deformable ring portion joined toone end thereof, and a hollow deformable enlarged portion joined to theother end thereof, and having an interior chamber communicating with theinterior of said sleeve portion, and also having a series of aperturescircularly disposed in the area adjacent said sleeve portion forproviding communication between said chamber and the atmosphere.

8. As an article of manufacture, a port pro-- tector for the exhaustpassage of a fluid pressuredevice, comprising a hollow member having a.tubular portion adapted to be inserted in a port; of the fluid pressuredevice and being formed to: engage the wall thereof, and a perforatedistensi-- ble bulb portion carried on one end of the tubular portion.

ZERAH F. EDMUNDSONM

